Oil-valve-actuating mechanism for oil burners



May 12; 1925. 1,537,262

W. R. RAY

OIL VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR OIL BURNERS Filed Jan. 28, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet l v lNVf/VTOR. H WILLIAM R. RAK

May 12, 1925. 1,537,262

W. R. RAY

OIL VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR OIL BURNERS Filed Jan. 28, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 1, I, 1/) //r '"r 1/1 x, x 1/ /1 //1 1/ n INVENTOE'.WILL/AM 1?. RAW

ATTOQNEYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A T TOR/V Y3.

May 12, 1925. -w. R. RAY

011.. VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR OIL BURNERS Filed Jan. 28, 1924 mA\\\\\\\\ .0" 4 v V/ll/ll/fl/ J W ml. W

MIIIIIIHHHF vfi m vu z I A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\s PatentedMa 12, 1925.

UNlTED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILL 1AM B. RAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-VALVE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR OIL BURNERS Application filed January28, 1924. Serial No. 688,955.

'I'u u/I mlwm i( may concern lie it known that I, \V-naaan 1t. RAY, a.citizen of the United-States, residing at the city and county of SanFrancisco, and State 6 of California, have invented new and useful-Improvements in Oil-Valve-Aetmiting Mechanism for Oil Burners, of whichthe followingis a specification.- This invention ItltltQS to oil burnersof the electric-motobdrivcn' type, and especially to an automaticallyactuated oil valve therefor, whereby the oil to the burner is turned.

are usually actuated by means of a'solenoid or like magnet and are by nomeans new, but they are nevertheless far from satisfacand rathercomplicated switch mechanism when it is required that they be automatically operated.

Numerous switches are employed but are not satisfactory. Either thecontact breaking points are liable to stick, are and burn, or theiroperation cannot be depended upon, and with others mechanical defectsencountercd the. result istha-t the windings of the solenoid magnet areliable to overheat and the insulation to be burned, or the circuit .willnot-be closed when r uired, thus making the operation of thexr lvcanything but dependable.

In the burner discloscd in the present application a singlepliasoaltcrnating current motor is used for the-purpose of operating theoil burner. The statorof this motor is provided with two sets ofwindings, one known as the main or running winding, and the other'as thestarting winding. The windings are connected in parallel and the currentflows through both when the motor is first started. The circuit throughthe starting winding is, however, automatically broken when the motorreaches a predetertory in actual use as they require a special minedspeed and this is ZICCOll'lPllSllQtl by the use of acent-rifugally-actuatcd switch anounted in the-housing of the motor anddriven by the rotor.

In actual practice it is found that the circuitthrough the startingwinding remains closed for approximately two to five seconds and as itis not desirable to turn on the. oil until the motor reachesapp'roxilmitely full speed, I have found that. it is possible to connectthe solenoid magnet of the oil valve with the starting winding and thecentrifugal switch of the motor as a circuit thus obtaincd permits acertain lag, or in other words prevents energization of the solenoid andopening of the oil valve before the motor substantially reachesoperating speed. This manner of. connecting theqsolenoid magnet of theoil valve with the starting-winding and the centrifugal switch of themotor entirely eliminates the use of separate switches such aspreviously referred to. It simplifies the entire installation andmaterially reduces the cost of the same.

The manner of connecting the winding of the solenoid magnet with thestarting wmdingof the motor and the centrifugal switch actuating thesame forms thesubject matter of the present application and will beexplained in more detail by referring to the accompanying specificationand drawings, in whicl Fig. 1 is a front view of a hot water or steamboiler, showing the position of the burner with relation to the furnace,and also showing the position of the oil valve whereby the flow of oilto the burner is controlled.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the burner andthe furnace box, said view also showing the electric motor whereby theburner is operated, and furthermore the centrifugal switch whereby thestarting winding of the motor and the solenoid magnet of the oil valveare actu ated.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedv central vertical section of the oil valve.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the circuits formed in the motor andalso the circuits controlled by the ccntrifugally actuated switch.

Referring to the. drawings in detail, and particularly to ligs. 1 and2-, A indicates a standard form of steam or hot water boiler, and 2 thebase thereof in which the furnace proper is locatcd.'. Bindicates theburner in generaL-"Cjajal or blower, and D an (electric motor wherebythe fan and the h rner'araoperated.

The'bhrner is. o the rotary atomizing type and-consists o a cup 3securedron the outer end of ahollow or tubular shaft- 4.

This shaft-ifs supported in anti-friction beardicated at Sgand'it doesnot only form a support for the atomiamg cup 3, but also forms a'support for a blower 6 and "thero'tor -7 of the motor -D. The blower 6is enclosed by'a housing 8 and this housing is provided with' 'a jacketin which is through this finally deli is supported by hinges 9 formed ona front late lflqz'thisplate being attached to the irnaoe front orforming 'a part thereof. The fanliousing' also forms'a support for anair nozzle 11' which surrounds "the atomizin cup, and it fu'rthzrrnoreforms a su'pportfor the anti friction bearin 5 andthe'l'notor'hoiising'fDr This motor casing formed. an annular passage 12and oil is circulated passage, first, to cool the motor, and secondly,to heat the oil before it passes. through "the oil controlling' valveand is 've ed to the sterilizing cup 3. The enure burning .unit. to-wit,the fan housing, the"bearing-members '5 and the motbrD, together withthe air nozzle as previously stated, is supported by the hinges 9 on'thefrontfplate 10' ofthej furnace box, and as such may 'bereadily swung toor away from the furnace for'inspcction, re-

pair or otherwise.

The furnace box may be constructed in any manner desired as this featuredoes not form any "part-of the present invention; in fact,'the entireburner structure shbwn in this. application "is disclosed in severalpatents 'lpreviously issued to me (see for instance, atent No.1,253,422, dated January 15, 1918 and. Patent No. .1,285,376, datedNovember 19, 1918) and the only reason for illustrating-the sameisto'permit a clear descri tion ofthe use and function of the oil valveand the me hauls-m actuating the same.

The burner installation shown in this in- .stanoe is entirely automaticin operation.

It is provided with means for maintaining a predetermined temperature inthe room or rooms to be healed. the moans employ-oil being an adjustablethermostat such as indicated at 18; This lhe'rmoshtt is centrallylocated in the room to be heated and is connccted with a thermostaticrelay I!) which automatically controls the-circuit tlurough the motor.For instance, if it is desired to maintain a temperature of 72 l"., itis only necessary to set the thermostat. 18 to this temperature. Themoment this temperature is reached, relay I9 is automatically :utuatcdand the circuit through the motor is broken. Again, if the temperaturedrops below 72 F., the rela -cally actuated and die cil 'cu'it throughthe motor is "closed; The burner is for this reason more or less internittqlt in .operation and means must tlzergofo'ie-l for automaticallyopej'ngfaml closing the oil flow to the atom .cu'p when the burner isstarted or stopperh The oil valve em cated at F. This o l valve, perse,forms the subject matter of a copcnding application entitledElectra-magnetic valve, filed January specific details and constructionof the valve will"therefore not he entered into. Sulliceit to say, thevalve consists of a' casing whichis provided with an inlctpassageandan'out 19 is againahtonmti re employcd' ployed is gexierallyindi- 28,1924, Serial No. 688,954, and the t passage, the'inlet being connected wth -then enters. the jacket of the motor at the point indicated at 51and circulates around and through sa I jacket, and then dis} chargesthrough the pipe 52 with the intakewsideof the oil valve housing shownin Fig. 3.7-The'oil is freely pass through'this valve If it is o and itthen enters from where it finally enters a hollow pi 53 which extendsthrou V and terminates a gooseneck 64: in the centrifugal atomizing cup3. The oil thus-delivered is discharged and atomized by centrifugalaction and it is furthermore atomized by a blast of air delivered bythe'fan 6 and discharging through the nozzle 11.

The oil valve '8 provided with a valvo stem, generally indicated at 56;this valve stem forming a part of the core or armature of the solenoidmagnet generally indicated at F. When the magnet is energized the core,together with the valve stem '56. is elevated and oil flow through thevalve casing is permitted, but if the circuit through the coil of thesolenoid magnet'is broken, the core becomes tic-energized and it'willdrop, together with the vaive stem,-bygravityagainstthc valve seat andthus further flow of oil to the burner.

The operation of the burner is com plctcl controlled by the thermostat18' and the relay 19, and as the relay 19 really performs no otherfunction besides th breaking the circuit through the motor D, it can beseen that the'form of relay employed may be fairly simple. Most burnersof this type require a rather complicated relay or special switch as itis n make or break the cirrl tor, but it is also break th 0 circuitthrougll the oil valve and Pa inge structure. It

permitted to LY gh the. hollow shaft which connects.

a' regulatingvalve' 55' prevent at of making or ot only necessary to litthrough the mo-- necessary to make and -in someinstance'also make andbreak a The present invention.nusists in utilizing this switch for thepurpose of automatically making alnl ...h rea king' the circuit throughthe solenoidniagnetF audit is accomplished as follows Referring' to Fig,.4, he'wires 40 and 41 indicate thc ineoming wiresfrom the relay 1!).the wire 41. beingthe feed wire iandthe wire 4Q;the;;retn r1 i. .36indicates the main running winding.pig-the-mot0r and 37 the starting winding. JOi'ie terniinal of the starting winding is connected with thewire 4i. wl ilelhe othentcrininal of the starting winding is connectedthrough a wire 43 with one of the stationary contacts 44 of thecontril'ugzally.actuategl:switch l-l. The other stationary contactindicated at 45 is connected through a wire-4t; with the return wire 7-l" and a circuit through the starting'winding is lirst closed when themovable contacts 44" and 45" are brought into engagement with thestationary contacts 44 and 45. The. terminals of the. running winding 36are connected to the wires aud 41, respcetively, and the circuittheretlnough lln-refore remains closed as long as the motor isinmperation. The circuit through the. starting winding 37 will alsoremain closed in this instance. hat. the circuit through the. winding lof the solenoid magnet which ac- 49 tuates the oil valve will not heclosed hefore the motor rea hes approxlmat-e \v rlcing speed. This canhe explained as folltHVS:

if the circuit through the motor is closed hr the relay l9, currentwill'flow not only through the. running winding 36, hut it will alsopass through the. starting winding 2&7 and the contacts -14. 44, 4:":and 45' as the eentril'ngally actuated switch A is normal- 6" I closedand it. is not opened until the motweeii the. contacts 44 and 45.

tor reaches a predetermim-d speed. No current. will flow through the.winding of the solenoid magnet I" when the motor is first started as theswitch H acts as a short he- 'l'he moment, however. that the motorreaches a predetermined speed. or,approximately running speed. thecentrifugal governor H operates and the switch actuated therehy isopened.

The short connection between the. contacts and 45 is thus broken and thecircuit will thus pass through the wires 47 and 18 which are connectedwith the opposite terminals of the magnet F; thus when the monot onlypas through the main running This is due tothe fact that the circuit.

through the magnet. l" is not estalglished until the switehjll opens;thus atime lag is produced which prevents opening of the oil valve anddeli'v'ery of oil to the cup 3 before I it. has attained a speedsufficient to properly atonuze the oil: second, it will he noted that asno circuit is established through-the magnet l when lhemotor is firststarted.the motor is relieved of the extra load and all thecurrentenergy may be utilized to start the motor: third. by connecting the.magnet I with the contacts 4t and -l.." in the manner here shown. thetendency to are when the switch is opened is materially reduced; fourth,by employing the switch H for the purpose of automatically opening andclosing the circuit through the coil F of the solenoid magnet. whichactuates the oil valve, it not only simplifies the entire installationand reduces the. cost thereof, but it also'entlrcly" eliminates the useof special complicated switch mechanisms. reduces thecost of the relay.prevents sticking and arc ing of the contacts. and furthermore preventsall mechanical complications and the liahility of overheating the.solenoid coils.

\Vhile certain features of the present in vention are more or lessspecifically illustrat-ed, I wish it. understood that various changes inform and proportion may he re sorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and liuish ofthe several parts employed may he such as the experience and jndgnu-ntot' the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus tltfiC-lilittl my invention. what 1 claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent isl. The combination with an electric motordriven liquid fuel humor, of a. fuel delivering pipe connectedtherewith, a valve. on the pipe, electrically operated u'ieaus foropening and closing said valve. a common electric circuit for the motorand said electrically operated means. and means for automaticallyenergizing said electrically operated means a pred termimd time. eriodafter a driven liquid fuel hnrner, of a fuel delivering pipe c nnectedtherewith. a valve on or reaches running speed, the circuit will thepipe, electrically operated means for 0 )Clllllg and closing said valve,a common ciectric circuit or the motor and said electricall y operatedmeans, and means for automatically energizing said electrically operatedmeans when the motor has attained approximate running speed.

3. The combination with a burner of the character described and a singlephase alternating current electric motor whereb it is operated, thestator of said motor inc uding a starting winding and a centrifngallyactuated switch, of a solenoid magnet connected in parallel with theswitch, and an oil valve ada'ited to be opened and closed noi magnet.

4. The combination with a burner of the 6 character described and asingle base alternating current electric motor w iereby it is driven,the stator of said motor including it starting winding and acentrifugally actuated switch, said switch including a pair ofstationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts, a magnet connectedbetween the stationary contacts and adapted to be shorted when themovable contacts engage the stationary contacts, and an oil va veactuated by the magnet, said oil valve being by the sole closed when theswitch is closed and being opened when the switch is opened. v

The combination with a burner of the character described and a singlebase alternating current electric motor, w ie ebIv it is operated, thestator of said motor inc uding a starting winding and acentrifugally-actuated-switcli, whereby the circuit through thestarting'winding is automatically opened or closed, of a magnetconnected in the circuit controlled by the switch, and an oil valveadapted to be opened and closed by the magnet. a

6. The combination with a burner of the character described and a singlephase alternating electric motor'whereby it s operated, the stator ofsaid motor including a startin winding and a centrifu ally actuateds'witc whereby the circuit through the startin winding is automaticallyopened and close a magnet, an oil valve adapted to be opened and closedthereby, and an electric'clrcuit for said ma met, alsoada and closed ythe centrifugally actuated switch.

WILLIAM R. RAY

pted to be opened 50 a

